page_title: Guy Sebastian
section_title: Charitable work
hierarchical_section_title: Guy Sebastian / Charitable work
caption_attribution_description: English: Guy Sebastian and African children. Scan of cover of World Vision Australia Magazine, December 2005
context_page_description: Guy Theodore Sebastian AM is an Australian singer and songwriter who was the winner of the first Australian Idol in 2003, and a judge on Australia's The X Factor in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2016. He represented Australia at the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest, finishing in 5th place. Sebastian is currently a coach on The Voice Australia as of 2019.
  Sebastian has released nine top ten albums, including two number ones. The first seven all gained either platinum or multi-platinum certification. He has also achieved twenty two top twenty singles, with thirteen reaching the top ten, including six number ones. He is the only Australian male artist in Australian chart history to achieve six number one singles, and places third overall for all Australian acts. Nine of his singles have been certified multi-platinum, including the 11× platinum "Battle Scars". His debut single "Angels Brought Me Here" was the highest selling song in Australia in the decade 2000 to 2009. With 65 platinum and five gold certifications and combined album and single sales of over 4.7 million in Australia, he has the highest certifications and sales of any Australian Idol contestant.
context_section_description: Throughout his career Sebastian has had a strong commitment to charity. He has been an ambassador for the Ronald McDonald House charities, and is currently an ambassador for the Australian Red Cross and Golden Stave, which is the Australian music and entertainment industry's charity fund raising organisation. He is also an ambassador for World Vision Australia, and in 2005 he travelled to Uganda to film a World Vision documentary "An Idol in Africa" for a Network Ten television special. Sebastian has continued his work with World Vision, supporting the Child Rescue program and the 40 Hour Famine. He has also been involved in the Make Poverty History coalition of which World Vision is a part. In 2008 he was presented with the Extreme Inspiration Award at the Dolly Teen Choice Awards for his continuing support of World Vision. Sebastian is also strongly committed to the Sony Foundation, which raises funds to help young Australians facing homelessness, severe illness, disability and isolation. In 2009 the Sony CEO Denis Handlin said: "Every time I've asked Guy to get involved with the Sony Foundation through charity he's been completely proactive. Guy's been such a great ambassador for that, and a lot of it is under the radar but it just tells you so much about what a decent human being he is."
  Sebastian contributes to many other charitable projects. In 2005 he was the guest performer on the annual Indian Pacific Outback Christmas Journey which raises money for the Royal Flying Doctor's Service. In 2008 he performed a series of 11 concerts with the Australian Army Band to raise funds for Legacy. Legacy is a voluntary organisation which supports the families of deceased veterans. The concerts were held in theatre venues around Australia and the funds raised went to the local Legacy branch in the area each concert was held. Sebastian regularly performs at other fundraising events including Brisbane radio station B105's Christmas appeal for the Royal Children's Hospital, and Perth's annual Telethon. He also donates his time to annual Christmas carol events such as Carols in the Domain, Vision Australia's Carols by Candlelight, and Brisbane's Carols in the City. His songs are frequently featured on charity CDs including the Salvation Army Christmas fundraising CDs, The Spirit of Christmas albums. Sebastian also makes unofficial appearances at hospitals several times a year.
  In 2013, Guy together with his wife Jules formed The Sebastian Foundation. Both were raised with a strong affinity to charity and at the time of having their first child and making their own family, wanted to create an organisation through which they could help other families who were a little less fortunate than theirs. Based on an understanding of what a positive impact a strong family unit can have on both individuals and community, The Sebastian Foundation looks to provide a little bit of the warmth and benefit of family where it might be missing through serious illness, underprivilege or domestic violence. Project based, the Foundation seeks to help where the need is – they have renovated kitchens, gardens, and living areas in women's refuges, provided sleeper beds to hospitals to allow families to stay together through treatment and countless other ways to make a difference in some of Australia's most vulnerable lives. The Foundation has been working alongside the NSW Minister for Social Housing on a proposal that will revolutionise the way women fleeing domestic violence seek shelter which has the potential to impact generations to come, and a mentoring program to help young women who have been through the shelter system put their best foot forward. Funds are raised for the Foundation from corporate sponsors and through the annual MYER Carols in the City performance in Sydney.
caption: World Vision Australia Magazine. Dec 2005
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